Arthur Francis Smith (1849 – 1914) was a British organist and composer, and founder of the

Derby School of Music Derby School of Music is an independent private music school originally established in 1885, based in Derby, England. It offers private tuition on musical instruments and music theory, and provides grade examinations with all the major music exam ...

Career

Smith was a pupil of Edward Chadfield, and graduated BMus (1883) at

Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the oldest colleges of the university, founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. The college spans the River Cam, colloquially referred to as the "light s ...

. He served as organist of

St George's Church, Ticknall St George's Church, Ticknall is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Ticknall, Derbyshire. History The church was built in 1842 by the architect Henry Isaac Stevens to replace the old church dedicated to St Thomas Becket. ...

(1869–1872), then organist at

St Werburgh's Church, Derby St Werburgh's Church is an Anglican church on Friargate in the city of Derby, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building. In this church, Samuel Johnson (Dr Johnson) married Elizabeth ...

(1872–1912). Smith worked as a local choral society conductor, and editor of the monthly ''Journal of the

Incorporated Society of Musicians The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK and Ireland's professional body for musicians representing over 11,000 individuals across all areas of the music industry. The ISM is also a subject association for music education and is an ind ...

''. He was an honorary member and local representative and examiner for the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke of ...

, and the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

. Smith was a founder of the

(1885), and Head Teacher from 1885–1912. He wrote a series of technical work books published by Weekes & Co. in 1896.Derby School of Music Series – Arpeggios of Common Chords & Scales – Published by Weekes & Co. 1896

Compositions

Smith composed the setting of

Psalm 103 Psalm 103 is the 103rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Bless the , O my soul". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In Latin ...

'Praise The Lord' for voices and orchestra, and much church music including ''Te Deum in G'' (1894).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Arthur Francis 1849 births 1915 deaths British Romantic composers British classical organists Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge British male classical organists